Distributor rocker arm shoe lubricator



March 12, 1957 R. TOLLEFSEN El AL 2,784,809

DISTRIBUTOR ROCKER ARM SHOE LUBRICATOR Filed Sept. 27, 1954 A TTOR/VE Y2,784,809 DISTRIBUTOR ROCKER ARM SHOE LUBRICATOR I Reed Tollefsen,Pacific Palisades, and Thomas W. Talbot,

This invention relates to an improved distributor rocker arm shoelubricator and has for one of its principal objects the provision ofmeans whereby the block or shoe which contacts the rotating cam of thedistributor commonly employed in connection with internal combustionengines will be kept fully lubricated at all times.

One of the important objects of this invention is the construction of adistributor rocker arm shoe lubricator which will eliminate to a greatdegree the wearing away of certain portions of the construction of theordinary distributor assembly caused by normal operation, andparticularly the rubbing block or shoe, which wear produces a variationin the point settings and resultant faulty ignition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple yet efiicientlubricator for the rocker arm shoe or block of a distributor assemblywhich will keep the same fully lubricated all times while not in any wayinterfering with the normal and efiicient operation of the device.

Another and still further important object of the invention is theprovision of a continually lubricated rocker arm block or shoe whichwill eliminate the necessity for frequent adjustments and which willalso eliminate practically all of the undesirable unbalance of positiveand negative current flow which, to a great degree, causes pitting ofthe spark distributor points and resultant poor performance.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicientlubricating pad which can be applied to the shoe or block of adistributor assembly and whereby the area of contact between the shoeand the rotating cam will be maintained lubricated at all times, therebypreventing undesirable friction, consequent wear and resultantshortening of the gap between the points of the distributor which causesa retarded spark and makes the motor sluggish.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and followingspecification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan View of a representative internal combustiondistributor with the cap removed to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view showing particularly the rotatingcam of the distributor and the lubricated shoe or block of thisinvention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the broken line 33 of Figure 1,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating the lubricating pad and itsretaining clip, which embodies the preferred construction of thisinvention.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the base or relativelyfixed portion of an automotive distributor element having a centralrotating cam 12, an arm 14 piv- United States Patent oted at 16 forsupporting one of the breaker points 18, the other breaker point 20being mounted on an adjustable plate 22 fitted into the distributor 10in the usual manner.

The conventional rocker arm, block or shoe is mounted on the pivoted arm14 adjacent the cam 12, as best indicated at 24 in Figures 2 and 3, andthis is usually composed of impregnated fibre or some othernon-conducting material. It is well known that continuous operatingContact of the end of the fibre block or shoe with the cam 12 will causewear, and it is also well known that it is difi'icult to keep therespective elements properly lubricated so as to eliminate as much ofthe Wear as possible.

In the construction of this invention, a felt or other lubricating pad,as best shown at 28 in Figure 4, is fastened upon the rubbing block orshoe 24 and preferably by means of a wire spring clip 30. Both of theseelements are U-shaped so as to be readily fitted about the shoe 24 and aslight groove is preferably formed in the shoe as indicated by thedotted lines 32 in Figure 3, whereby closer and better contact betweenthe spring clip 30 and the pad 28 with reference to the shoe 24 isassured. The ends of the spring clip 30 may also be bent inwardly asshown at 34 for a better fitting and a more secure maintaining of theparts in desired position.

When a desired or suflicient amount of lubricant is applied to the pad28, a certain amount of it will obviously reach the area of contactbetween the follower or shoe 24 and the rotating cam 12, reducingundesirable Wear. The lubricant can be applied in sufficient quantitiesto last quite a long time, and there is little or no danger of thelubricating pad becoming loose or misplaced, which obviously wouldinterfere with proper operation of the apparatus.

It will be evident that herein is provided means for preventingexcessive wear of the shoe, block or follower of a distributor assembly,which, in addition to retarding the spark, will tend to cause theprimary current to flow.

longer than it should with the ultimate result of arcing and heating atthe points with attendant burning.

It will also be obvious that the device of this invention is simple,inexpensive, and can be readily applied to present distributors as wellas to new ones, without difficult mechanical attachments such as screwsor the like.

The precise arrangement for supporting the pad or wick is novel,obviously useful, and will assure of longer and more eificient operationwith little or no attention beyond the first instalment and consequentapplication of lubricant.

It will be fur; .er evident that due to the close proximity of theoil-bearing wick or pad 28 to the rotatable cam 12, there will be anactual contact between the pad and the cam during operation, whereby oneedge of the pad will act to supply lubricant and the other edge will actas a wiper if an undue amount of lubricant is deposited on the cam. Theinturned ends 34 of the clip 30 may be pointed and foreshortened toactually penetrate the material of the pad, thereby providing a furthersafeguard against accidental dislodgement.

The lubricating pad can be arranged to cover substantially all of oneend and both side surfaces of the shoe, with its forward face closelyadjacent to the rotating cam 12, but spaced slightly rearwardly from thecam contacting face of the shoe.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and we therefore do not propose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

tioning therewith of the spring clip.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the lubricating pad coverssubstantially all of one end and both side surfaces of the shoe andwherein one face of the pad is closely adjacent the rotating cam of thedistributor but spaced slightly away from the cam contacting face of theshoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,412,647 Barry Apr. 11, 1922 2,007,217 Rose July 9, 1935 2,034,683Olandt Mar. 17, 1936 2,403,434 Gulden July 9, 1946 2,700,432 Hieger Jan.25, 1955

